Dispute Resolution
Litigation and arbitration for commercial, corporate and regulatory disputes — handled by the same firm that structured the underlying transaction wherever possible.
Dispute Resolution overview
Domestic arbitration in Pakistan is still governed today by the Arbitration Act, 1940 — a colonial-era statute that predates the New York Convention and leaves considerably more room for court intervention than most international counterparties expect. Pakistan’s implementation of the New York Convention itself came separately, through the Recognition and Enforcement (Arbitration Agreements and Foreign Arbitral Awards) Act, 2011, which governs enforcement of foreign arbitral awards rather than domestic arbitration procedure. A reform bill — the Arbitration Act 2024, drafted by the Arbitration Law Review Committee under the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan on the UNCITRAL Model Law — was approved by the Federal Cabinet in 2024 and would replace the 1940 Act once passed, but as of today it remains pending before the National Assembly rather than being in force; until it is enacted, the 1940 Act continues to apply to arbitrations seated in Pakistan. Litigation, meanwhile, proceeds under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in the civil courts, with specific matters — company disputes before the Company Bench of the High Court under the Companies Act, 2017, or contested regulatory decisions before SECP, FBR, NEPRA or the provincial revenue authorities — following the procedure set out in the relevant sector statute rather than ordinary civil process. KBL & Associates advises on drafting dispute resolution clauses with this transitional landscape in mind, and represents clients in litigation, domestic arbitration, and regulatory proceedings before Lahore High Court and the relevant regulators.
Commercial Litigation
Representation before civil and commercial courts on contract, corporate and regulatory disputes.
Arbitration
Domestic and international arbitration, from clause drafting through to enforcement.
Regulatory Disputes
Representation before SECP, FBR and provincial regulators on contested matters.
Governing law & regulators
The statutes and forums that actually govern dispute resolution in Pakistan — the specific instruments a matter here gets tested against, not a general overview.
Current governing statute for domestic arbitration seated in Pakistan, pending replacement.
pakistancode.gov.pk →Implements the New York Convention for enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Pakistan.
pakistancode.gov.pk →UNCITRAL Model Law-based reform bill approved by the Federal Cabinet; awaiting passage by the National Assembly.
na.gov.pk →General procedural law governing civil litigation before Pakistani courts.
pakistancode.gov.pk →Common questions, answered directly
A dispute resolution lawyer represents clients in commercial litigation, arbitration, and proceedings before regulators, handling everything from pre-litigation strategy through to enforcement of a judgment or award.
Other practice areas
Litigating from another country
Overseas parties are represented in Pakistani courts and arbitrations under attested power of attorney. Attendance is required only where a judge or tribunal specifically calls for it, and hearing updates are sent on the client's time zone.
Overseas instructions are a routine part of the firm’s work rather than an exception. Where a matter also touches family law — guardianship, succession or a child’s documents — it is handled by the same firm rather than referred out. See child adoption and guardianship from Pakistan or all thirteen practice areas.
Run this from where you live.
Guides written for Pakistanis in the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and the Gulf.